Filmmaker Murray Siple has been busy promoting his smash-hit documentary, Carts of Darkness. After the film headlined the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival in February, it wowed audiences at Toronto’s HotDocs in April – plus standing-room-only showings in Halifax and Calgary this month. Siple has seen a landslide of interest in his gritty, touching doc about shopping cart-racing-homeless men on the North Shore.

Festivals in New York, Brazil and Melbourne have come knocking, and a few European screenings could be in the works for Carts, as well.

“When they [festivals] request it, it’s pretty cool, pretty positive,” said Siple.

Upcoming local screenings of Carts: Oct. 7 at UBC’s Norm Theatre (7 p.m.), Oct. 15 at Parkgate Community Centre (6 p.m.), Oct. 16 at GF Strong (7 p.m.). Screenings are free. On Oct. 7, Siple will answer questions after the screening. For more info about Carts of Darkness, visit www.murraysiple.com.

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Poor Stink Moody. The main character in Megan McDonald’s Stink series for kids, Stink is a second-grader who just can’t seem to get any taller.

He spikes his hair, he wears striped shirts, but one day finds he’s lost an entire inch from his 3-8 height.

The intrepid Stink, underdog little brother and second grader, became the main character in his own series after author McDonald realized his popularity with young kids. The story goes that while previously the character had appeared in the Judy Moody series, McDonald one day met a class full of children who chanted “Stink! Stink! Stink!” when she introduced herself. A smash series was born.

McDonald appears at the Lynn Valley Main Library, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pre-registration is required but tickets are free. Pre-register at 604-984-0286 or at Kidsbooks in Edgemont Village. The talk is co-presented with Kidsbooks.

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Vancouver journalist Daphne Bramham comes to the Cap U Ikon Speaker Series this Sunday (Oct. 5) to speak about her new book, The Secret Lives of Saints (Random House).

The National Newspaper Award-winning writer has produced an investigative book about fundamentalist polygamous Mormons in Bountiful, B.C. and spearhead figure Winston Blackmore – bishop, community leader, husband to dozens of wives.

Looking at polygamous sects across the continent, Bramham follows the Blackmore men through four generations of polygamous dealings, investigates the treatment of women and children in the polygamous sect, and the statement that the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is “North America’s Taliban.”

Bramham writes “How is it that two nations [Canada and the U.S.], so clear-sighted in recognizing human atrocities in other countries and so fearless in taking on tyrannical rulers on the other side of the world, have been so blind to the human rights violations committed against their own women and children?”

Event starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10/$12. Info: 604-990-7810.

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Juno Award winner Ron Sexsmith is coming to the Chan Centre Saturday, Oct. 4 and performs with Jill Barber.

Sexsmith, who released his ninth album, Exit Strategy of the Soul, this summer said the album’s vocals and piano were hammered out during practice sessions at his home.

“I love hearing (Bob) Dylan records like that, where you can tell he’s not getting too fussy about his singing, and I don’t want to get too precious about it,” Sexsmith said.

To add to the rough and tumble recording style, the finishing touch was the addition of a Cuban horn section recorded on the fly in Havana.

The Chan Centre concert takes place 8 p.m., Oct. 4. Tickets are $27 to $37. More information at 604-990-7810.